Apparatus for stamp forming a workpiece and method associated therewith

Abstract

Tooling for stamp forming a workpiece includes a first tool, a second tool, and an elastic boundary. The second tool includes an elastomeric member. The first tool has a thickness along a stamping axis and defines a first stamping surface extending from the stamping axis. The elastomeric member having a thickness along the stamping axis and defining a second stamping surface axially opposing the first stamping surface. The elastomeric member defines a periphery spaced from the stamping axis. The elastic boundary disposed proximate to at least a portion of the periphery of the elastomeric member.

1 . An apparatus for stamp forming a workpiece, the apparatus comprising:
 a first tool having a thickness along a stamping axis and defining a first stamping surface extending from the stamping axis;   a second tool comprising an elastomeric member, the elastomeric member having a thickness along the stamping axis and defining a second stamping surface axially opposing the first stamping surface, wherein the elastomeric member defines a periphery spaced from the stamping axis; and   an elastic boundary disposed proximate to at least a portion of the periphery of the elastomeric member.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first stamping surface extends radially from the stamping axis. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the periphery defined by the elastomeric member is radially spaced from the stamping axis. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic boundary substantially borders the elastomeric member. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the second tool further comprising:
 a support structure having a thickness along the stamping axis and defining a support surface opposing the first stamping surface of the first tool.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the elastomeric member is disposed between the first stamping surface of the first tool and the support surface of the support structure. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the elastomeric member is at least temporarily secured to the support surface of the support structure. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic boundary defines an interior portion radially spaced from the stamping axis, wherein the elastic boundary is disposed such that the interior portion opposes the periphery of the elastomeric member. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the elastic boundary defines a peripheral portion opposite the interior portion, wherein the interior portion faces an exterior surface of the periphery of the elastomeric member and elastically moves toward the peripheral portion in response to deformation of the elastomeric member due to compression of the elastomeric member along the stamping axis. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic boundary defines an interior portion radially spaced from the stamping axis and a peripheral portion opposite the interior portion, wherein the interior portion is formed by at least one movable sidewall, wherein the peripheral portion comprises at least one non-movable support, the elastic boundary comprising:
 at least one biasing element disposed between the at least one movable sidewall and the at least one non-movable support.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one biasing element comprises one or more of a spring, a coil spring, a leaf spring, an actuator, an electrical actuator, a pneumatic actuator, a hydraulic actuator, a ball screw actuator, an elastomeric insert, a pneumatic bladder insert, and a shape memory alloy insert. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one biasing element comprises a spring and a mechanism to adjust a preload tension on the spring. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one biasing element comprises a coil spring and a mechanism to adjust a preload tension on the coil spring, the mechanism comprising:
 a threaded rod along a central axis of the coil spring and between a select movable sidewall and the peripheral portion;   an adjustment ring on the threaded rod and adjacent to the coil spring to control the preload tension; and   a jam ring between the adjustment ring and the peripheral portion to lock the adjustment ring at a predetermined preload tension.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one biasing element comprises an elastomeric insert with a stiffness characteristic that resiliently resists deformation of the elastomeric member due to compression of the elastomeric member along the stamping axis. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one biasing element comprises an elastomeric insert selectively matched to the elastomeric member to resiliently resist deformation of the elastomeric member due to compression of the elastomeric member along the stamping axis. 
     
     
         16 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic boundary has a stiffness characteristic that resiliently resists deformation of the elastomeric member due to compression of the elastomeric member between the first stamping surface of the first tool and a support structure in conjunction with approximating the first tool and the second tool. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the stiffness characteristic of the elastic boundary is tunable to an alternate elastomeric member by replacement of the elastic boundary with an alternate elastic boundary having an alternate stiffness characteristic that resiliently resists deformation of the alternate elastomeric member during the compression and reduces concentration of stress along an exterior surface and a midplane of the alternate elastomeric member. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the stiffness characteristic of the elastic boundary is tunable to an alternate elastomeric member by adjustment of the elastic boundary to have an alternate stiffness characteristic that resiliently resists deformation of the alternate elastomeric member during the compression and reduces concentration of stress along an exterior surface and a midplane of the alternate elastomeric member during the compression. 
     
     
         24 . A method for stamp forming a workpiece, the method comprising:
 positioning the workpiece between a first tool and a second tool opposing the first tool along a stamping axis, wherein the second tool comprises an elastomeric member opposing the first tool along the stamping axis, wherein the elastomeric member defines a periphery spaced from the stamping axis, wherein an elastic boundary is disposed proximate to the periphery of the elastomeric member; and   approximating the first tool and the second tool to compress the workpiece between the first tool and the elastomeric member of the second tool.   
     
     
         25 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A method for stamp forming a workpiece, the method comprising:
 positioning the workpiece between a first tool and a second tool opposing the first tool along a stamping axis, wherein the second tool comprises an elastomeric member opposing the first tool along the stamping axis, wherein the elastomeric member defines a periphery spaced from the stamping axis;   compressing the workpiece between the first tool and the elastomeric member of the second tool in response to the first tool and the second tool being approximated; and   during the compressing, reducing concentration of stress along at least one of the periphery of the elastomeric member and a midplane of the elastomeric member.   
     
     
         32 - 36 . (canceled)